Gavi & Pedri imagines

Injury- Pedri Gonzalez

Playing football professionally is great especially when you are at the top of your game but it's also a lot of pressure as you have to stay in peak physical condition and perform every match. I have been very lucky with these things so far as I haven't really had any big injuries and have managed to work hard and work my way to the Barcelona womens team. To start with it was incredibly stressful and I was just really overwhelmed but then I met my boyfriend Pedri and he really helped me become more confident in my ability and I've not looked back since.

With Pedri also being part of Barcelona we often get to go to training together but usually we aren't able to watch each other play as our matches are at different times and in different places but this weekend our schedules aligned and so Pedri is coming with me to my match. Knowing that he's going to be there has had me even more motivated than usual in training as I love to show him what I can do even though he already knows. When we go to each other's matches we are allowed to travel together as we are both part of the team which I love as I really hate flying so having someone to distract me helps. Pedri is really good at distracting me in general as before a match he will have me laughing instead of sitting in a corner panicking which is quite a feat as usually no one can stop my pre match panic.

Luckily this match wasn't too far so the flight wasn't too long but I still spent the entirety of the flight cuddled up to Pedri while we watched part of a movie. We watched the rest of the movie while on the bus from the airport which is normally when I start to get nervous but today I was still quite relaxed and that's all because I had Pedri with me. Once we had arrived there was still quite a while before the game so we had a lot of time to kill which pretty much always means just laying down together as it's relaxing and means we aren't doing anything that uses too much energy. To keep my brain focused on something other than the match Pedri put on our favourite show as he knows that I'll pay attention to that.

After doing nothing for a few hours it was time for us to head to the stadium but first I had to do my hair as I always find it hard to do when I'm nervous as my hands just don't want to work. I had already changed into the clothes we are supposed to wear into the stadium and was standing in front of the full length mirror trying to braid my hair as that's how I usually wear it during a match. Usually I'm very good at doing my hair as I've been doing it for years but for some reason I was really struggling to get it right today. Pedri watched me do the same part over and over again until he had clearly had enough as he got up and stopped me doing my hair before taking over. I just watched him in awe as I didn't think he would be any good at hair but he did it better than I do sometimes. Once he was done we headed down but along the way I had to ask how he knew what to do and he just told me that he's watched me enough that's he's learnt.

When we reached the stadium Pedri had to leave but I knew I'd get to see him before I go out on the pitch which made me feel a bit better. Like usual we did a warm up as a team before properly getting ready which is when my nerves really started to kick in and I took myself off to a corner like usual to try and calm down. My methods didn't work too well but eventually we left the locker room and Pedri was waiting for me right outside so I went straight over to him and he pulled me into a hug. He held on for a little while before pulling away and letting his hands on my cheeks to get me to look in his eyes.

"You got this love go show them what you're made of" he said

"I will" I replied smiling

"Go on I'll be cheering for you in the stands" he said giving me one last kiss and then left to go and sit down

We got out onto the pitch and before I knew it the game had started but I quickly got into the game and was completely focused on looking for space to run into or who to pass to. My methods seem to work pretty well usually and today they seem to be doing the same as after 20 minutes I got the ball and ended up running all the way to the goal and scoring. When I scored I searched for Pedri in the crowd and when I noticed him he was smiling ear to ear and gave me a thumbs up which filled me with even more motivation. Just after half time it happened again there was a whole lot going on but I got given the ball and had no one else to pass it to so I just went for it and the ball went right past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. This time I decided to do Pedri's usual celebration seeing as he was watching and plus it will give people something to talk about after the game.

Things were going well after I scored as I got the ball again and was making a run but then I was tackled and the other player completely missed the ball hitting my ankle instead. I heard a pop followed my a sharp pain going from my heel all the way up my leg. Right away I knew it was something serious as I've never felt so much pain in my life especially when I tried to move my ankle it was excruciating. I hate crying about injuries while on the pitch but this time I couldn't help it but I covered my face instead so now one could see. The medics were quickly by my side and asking me where my pain was and trying to assess me. They quickly worked out that I was not going to be able to continue so they helped me get up and walk off the pitch and straight down the tunnel to the physio room so I could have my injury assessed to know the extent of it.

I was laying there on my own for a while until I heard the door open so I looked up to see that it was Pedri not the physio. I tried to offer him a smile but I think it was pretty obvious that I wasn't actually happy and really was in a lot of pain. He came and stood by my side taking hold of my hand and rubbing it gently while he leant down to give me a kiss. With both of us being footballers he knows exactly what it's like to be injured and be worrying about if and when you'll be able to play again so he didn't bother asking me if I was alright because he knew the answer would be no. Instead he just sat by my side and had the game on his phone so I could still see what was going on which I appreciated as it distracted me for the pain.

Eventually the physio came in and did all the usual checks on my ankle as well as some other things before telling me that I'd been very lucky as I'd had a few tears in different muscles but my achilles tendon was ok so my recovery will likely be a few weeks instead of a few months. As much as it was nice to know that my injury wasn't as bad as it could be it didn't make the pain I'm feeling right now any better which is what was taking over most of my thoughts. Sadly the physio didn't do anything other than strap my foot up and give me some crutches so as soon as they left I tried to get up so that me and Pedri could go and get some painkillers.

Just as I was about to grab my crutches Pedri stopped me and instead picked me up bridal style so that I didn't have to walk at all. He first carried me to the locker room so I could get my things and see my team as the match was over now and we had won 2-1. When everyone was ready to go he carried me to the bus which was taking us back to the hotel so we could then go back to the airport and fly back home. Once we reached the hotel Pedri left me to pack while he ran and got some painkillers for me so that I could be at least a little more comfortable on the flight back. The entire flight and then drive back home Pedri kept checking that I was ok and if I needed anything and even when I said that I was fine he still melt an eye in me to make sure I wasn't lying.

When we finally got back home I was exhausted but there was still so many things I had to do before going to bed I mean I didn't even shower after the game so that's definitely top of my priority list. Once we got inside I finally got hold of my crutches and used them to make my way up the stairs to the bathroom which was difficult but I eventually made it only for Pedri to join me in less than a second and rush past me to turn the shower on for me. He helped me get ready and then left me to shower by myself but when I came out he had set clothes out ready for me which made me smile as it was some shorts and one of his hoodies which he wore the other day so I knew it would smell like him.

Once I had changed Pedri came back in the room with some food for the both of us which we ate in bed while watching my favourite film which I have seen a million times but I still love watching. After eating Pedri took the plates back to the kitchen but quickly came back and got into bed with me pulling me close to him straight away so naturally I rested my head on his chest so that I could listen to his heartbeat as I find it calming. We laid there in silence as he stroked my hair and I listened to the calming rhythm of his heartbeat for a while before I began to drift off to sleep so Pedri kissed my cheek and started to whisper in my ear.

"Goodnight my love" he whispered

"Goodnight oh and thank you for taking care of me" I whispered back

"No need to thank me I'll be taking care of you until you are ready to get back to training anyway" he said

"Thank you" I said just loud enough for him to hear before I let sleep consume me